Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-05-13
Lexington Presbytery.

CHANGES IN PAsToRATEs-REYs. PLUM
Err BRYAN, F. G.. RAILEY AND L. b
JOHNSTON CHANGE THEIR CHARGES
COMMISSIONERS TO GENERAL ASSEM-
BLY-LAReE ADDITIONS TO CHURCHES
OPPOSITION TO ORGANIC UNION
WITH THE NORTHERN PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH.
&C., &C., sc.
Lexington Presbytery held its Spring
meeting at New Monmouth church, Rock
bridge, last week. Rev. A. Jones was
elected Moderator, and Rev. G. L. Bitter
of Augusta church and Ruling Elder
Hugh W. Henry of the Staunton Second
church, were chosen temporary clerks.
TRANSFERS.
A. W. Crawford to Pennsylvania Pres
bytery, KY; W. McF. Alexander to Sa-
vannah Presbytery. Ca, and H. Shep-
perd, colored, to Tuscaloosa Presbytery,
Ala, were all dismissed from Lexington
fresbytery, having received calls to the
fields named.
CHANGES.
The resignation of Rev. F. e.. Railey of
the passionate of Messy Greek church in
Augusta, was accepted and permission
was granted him to labor within the
bounds of Presbytery till its next stated
meeting.
A call from Asheville. N. c., was placed
in the hands of Rev. W. s. Plumer Bryan,
pastor of Tygarts- Valley and Mingo-F Flats
churches in Randolph county, W. Va. A
delegation from those churches was pres
emit to resist bis removal, and ona from
the Asheviile church to press his accep-
lance. M. Ss accepted the call.
His pastoral relations wiJa ~ " esS
Virginia churches will end June 18th, and
those with the Asheville church begin July
LIST. Asheville is pretty city in the North
Carolina mountains, rapidly growing and
already has electric lights and a street
railroad. 1t is a great resort for Northern
and other visitors suffering from lung
disease. The church there gets in MI.
Bryan one of the ablest ministers not only
in Lexington Presbytery but in the Synod
of Virginia.
Liceutiate W. G. White who has been
called to the pulpits Of Warm Springs and
Greenwood churches in Bath Co., was
received from West Hanover PresbYtery.
He will be installed and ordained June
18th, Rev. DR.. III. H. Halves preaching
the ordination sermon.
Rev. G. L. Wolfe who had been dis
missed to Texas Presbytery, returned
his certificate of dismission and will re-
main in Lexington Presbytery.
Rev. L. R. Johnston of Hebron church,
Augusta, was permitted to accept call
to Harrisonburg, and the second Sabbath
in June appointed for his installation there
-Revs. G. L. Brown, e. A. Wilson and
G.. L. Bitter, being the installation COM
mittee.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CHURCHES.
A committee was appointed to prepare
historical sketch of the churches in the
Presbytery, to be presented to the Synod
OF Virginia, consisting of Rev. DR..
Quarles, Rev. D. c. Irwin. Elders ]. A.
Waddell, Jed Hotchkiss and j. J. White.
COMMISSIONERS TO GENERAL AS
sEMBLY.
Rev. Drs. Thos. l.. Preston of Lexing-
ton, and G. r. Vaughan of New Proyi-
dence churches, and Ruling Elders Judge
George e.. Grattan of Harrisonburg, and
VIM. Withrow, Jr., OF Waynesboro, were
elected commissioners to General Assem-
bly,.
REPORTS FROM CHURCHES
The following churches have had these
additions during the past year: Bethel
received % members on profession; First
church. Staunton, 81; Mt. Horeb, 81; Mt.
Carmel, 81; Thinking Spring, 80; Tygart's
Valley, 4S, Waynesboro, 4s; Beverly. "a;
Augusta, 81 Cooks Creek, A; Pendleton,
49,; Clarksburg Central, IS.
The report on Sabbath schools exhibits
growth in this department of work. The
whole number of teachers enrolled is 724;
Of scholars, 5,553-an increase over last
year OF Is and 703, respectively.
ORGANIC UNION WITH THE NORTHERN
CHURCH NOT DEEMED ADVISABLE.
The following oyertures to the Assem-
bly, were adopted: 1. That the constitu-
ton be changed to provide that, instead
of allowing majority of the presbyteries
to determine the question of organic union
with other churches, three fourths of the
presbyteries must approve such step. 2.
That an amendment be proposed providing
that the clerks of our church courts be
elected for terms of three years instead Of
''during the pleasure of the court" 8.
That we are satisfied with the present re-
lations of the Northern Presbyterian
Church with our own, and believe that
any movement in the direction of organic
union will create or foster division of seq
timent IN our Church, which we would
greatly deplore. We overture the Assem-
bly, therefore not to take any such steps as
those indicated by the appointment of
committee or otherwise for bringing the
churches into closer relations than those
which now exist. This was adopted almost
unanimously. DR.. G r. Vaughan made
an earnest speech against organic union.
THE NEXT STATED MEETING.
Massanutten church, Rockingham, Sep
TENDER 2Sth, were appointed as the place
and time for the next stated meeting of
Presbytery, which adjourned on Saturday
morning.
A Labor Saving Appliance.
eE I IL.